Vegetable cutter



May '1, 1945. c. cURTlcE VEGETABLE CUTTER Filed May 27, 1945 www@ vdL/fe,

Patented May .1, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEI 2,374,851 VGETABLE CUTTER Chester I. Cin-tice, Kansas CitygMo; Application May 27, 1943, serial No. 488,632

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in vegetable cutters. It relates particularly to the type of vegetable cutters in which horizontal blades disposed edge up are mounted on the open upper end of a tubular support, combined with a presser member adapted to be moved to force a vegetable against and between the blades downwardly into the support. w

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of novel means for operatively mounting the cutting blades on the tubular support in a manner such -that the blades may be assembled in diierent numbers andv positions, so as to out the vegetable into different forms and sizes, which enables the parts to be easily andquickly assembled -for use; and. easily and quickly disassembled for cleaning7 and for sharpening of the blades.` i

A further object of; my invention is the provision of novel means for supporting and operating the presser member with ease, and holding it from lateral tipping.-

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel means for catching the cutparts of the vegetable discharged into the tubular support, and

for discharging them automatically therefrom.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a novel vegetable cutter of vthe kind described, which is simple, cheap'to make', strong, durable, not likely to` get out of order, and which ris efcient in itsy operation.

The novel features' of my invention are hereinv after fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing', whichV illustrates my invention,

Fig. 1 is a View looking at one side of' my improved veg'etable cutter, shown partly' inl side elevation, partly in vertical s'eetion and partly broken away, the presser member' being shown in its uppermost position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the vegetable cutter shown in Fig. l, and embodying one form of my invention in which the blades are mounted in the slots of an inner ring 4ntted in an outer ring tted in the upper end of the tubular support.` In this View two fully s'ets of crossed blades are shown. Fig. 3 isa side elevation of an upper portion of the vegetable cutter shownl in Fig. l, the presser member and its operating lever being shown in their lowermost positions.

Fig. 4 is a view looking vegetable cutter shown in Fig. l, the view being partly inside elevation, partly in vertical section and partly broken away,the presser member and at another side of the set of `blades. may be its operating lever being sl'lw in their lower'- mostv positions.

Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view, slight-` ly enlarged. showing the inner ringymounted in the outer ring, end of the upper portinof the tubular support, the blades beingy omitted. v

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the outer ring, a portion ofthe inner ring mounted therein and portions of some of the blades mounted in theslots of the inner ring, taken on the line 6 ,6 of Fg. 7.

Fig. 7 is a top plan View of the outer ring, the inner ring mounted therein and some of the two sets of blades' mounted in slots in the inner ring, and disposed inv numbers and positions adapting them to outa potato intopieces of forms and sizes adapting them for French fried potatoes.

Fig'. 8 is a top plan view' ofthe inner ring having blade receivingr Slots in its; upper edge. y

Fig. `9 is an er'ilyarged side portion of one ofy the two sets of blades.

Fig. 10 `is ankenlarged ,side` elevatin of anen'd portion of. one of thefother Set` of blades and having slots in its the blades which cross it. Y

Fig. k1l is an enlarged vertical section of a pruon of a Vblade Supporting ring having blade ceiving` slots and adapted to serve the functions of both the inner and outer rings, shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, `and which is a modification of my invention.

Similarcharacters of reference designate similar parts inthe different views'.

l designates a tubular support, preferably a hollow cylinder `withan open upper end,` as shown.

Twosets of cutting blades are provided. Dependingon how the vegetables are to be cut, one used at one time, or both sets may be employed at the same time, arranged as will be hereinafter described. ..1

2 designates the bladesof `one set arranged, when in use horizontally and parallel with each other, with their cutting edges up and having each in its lower edge vertical slots 3 for receiving respectively the blades il of. the other set transverse thereto. The blades 4 each has in its upper edge vertical slots 5Xwhich respectively l receive vthe blades 2. The bladesd are also disposed horizontally edges up and parallel withv each other.

For supporting the blades 2 and inthe upper A end of the tubular support l vided an outer horizontal ring 6, which is rethe latter being fitted in the upper ,elevation `of an end upper edge adapted to receiv lower end "upper end of the tubular support I.

movably tted in the upper end of the tubular` end of the tubular support I, as shown in Fig. The ring 6 is provided on its inner side below` its top with an inner peripheral flange 8 on whichv rests an inner ring 9 tted removably in the ring y its upper side, arranged in 6, and having slots in right angles tor eachv other two sets III and II, at

for respectively receiving the end portions of the two sets of blades 2 and 4, as is shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7. In cutting a vegetable, as a potato, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and designated by I2,.the potato rests on the cutting edges of the blades, and a presser member I3, reciprocatively mounted above the blades, is used to force the potato I2 against and downwardly between the blades, which, depending upon their arrangement at the time, cut the potato into form. v

The presser member I3, as shown, comprises a flat horizontal disk, which has fastened upon its upper side a flat bar I4 with projecting end portions I5 disposed edge up and extending respectively through and vertically slidable in two vertical slots I6 provided in two vertical guiding bars I1, fastened, diametrically opposite to each other. at their lower ends to the outer side of and projecting upwardly from the tubular support I.

For reciprocating vertically the presser member I3, there is provided a. lever I8 having one end pivoted by a transverse pin I9 to the upper end of a standard'Z, the lower end of which is fastened to the outer side of the tubular support I. The upper end of the. standard 20 is disposed in a vertical plane midway between and at right angles to the vertical plane in which are disposed the guiding bars I1.

An angle bar has a horizontal arm 2| fastened to the middle and upper side of the guiding bar I4. The vertical yarm 22 of said angle bar has 23, disposed parallel with the axis pivot pin I9, and having its ends slidably mounted respectively in two longitudinal slots 24 in the sides of the lever I8, which at this point is U shaped in cross section. l

With the employment of the guiding bar I4 and slotted guiding bars I1, the presser member; I3 is held from tilting side wise in one direction, and by the employment of pieces of the desired the pivot pins I9 and lil) rigidly fitted in its upper end portion a pivot pin l 23, standard 20, lever I8 and angle bar 2I--22,

the presser member is held from tilting at right angles to the first named direction. v

The tubular support I has spaced from its lower end a substantial distance. a side opening 25 through which at its lower end projects the y of a bottom member v25, which is fitted at its periphery in the tubular member I and sla-nts downwardly to and through said opening 25 at an angle such that pieces of vegetables cut by the blades, and falling downwardly therefrom. strike said bottom member and are discharged by gravity through the opening 25, where they may be caught by a suitable receiver, not shown.

In operating the cutter, if it is desired to cut a vegetable into flat thin slices, all of the blades 2 are mounted in the slots II] in the inner ring 9.v If thicker slices are desired, only alternate blades 2 are mounted in the slots Ill. The inner ring 9, with the blades 2 therein, is then mounted in the outer ring 6, and the latter is fitted in the The lever IS is then swung up to lift the presser member blades 2 and 4, the same may be I3 to the position shown in Fig. v1. The vegetable, or part thereof to be cut, designated by I2, Fig. 1, is placed 'on the blades 2, and the lever I8 is then swung downwardly lowering the presser member I3 and causing it rto force the vegetable I2 against and between the blades 2, thereby slicing it. Another vegetable is then placed 0n the blades 2 and the presser member I3 is again swung lby the lever I8, thus slicing the second vegetable and causing it to force the first vegetable from between the blades, the slices of which fall on the bottom member 26 from which they pass by gravity out through the opening 25.

If long thin strips are desired to be cut,` as Shoestring potatoes, a long vegetable is used and all vof the blades 2 and 4 are mounted in the inner ring 9, which as described before, is placed in the outer ring 6, which is mounted in the tubular support. The presser member I3l is then operated by the lever I8 to force the vegetable against and -between the blades 2 and 4.

By substituting slices of vegetables on the diced when forced between the blades b-y the presser mem'- ber I3.

If French fried type of ypieces are desired, alternate ones of the blades 2 and 4 are employed1 as lshown in Fig. '1.

In the modified form of means for supporting and positioning the blades 2 and 4, shown in Fig. II, a ring 6 having an outer peripheral flange 1 is fitted in the upper end of the tubular support I. The ring 6 is thicker than the rings. horizontally, and is provided slots I0' and II' at right anglesy to each other, extending downwardly from the upper side of the ring at its inner side, to near the bottom thereof.

In this form of my invention, the blades 2 and 4 are respectively mounted at their ends in the slots Ill and II, whereby the ring 5 performs the functions of the inner ring 9 and the router ring 5 of the other form of my invention. The operation of cutting the vegetables in the form and sizes desired is effected with'tlie ring 6 by the same mode of operation as has been described with reference to the other form of blade'supporting means.

In each'form of my invention, after the last vegetable has been cut, the last portion cut will have some pieces remaining in between the blades. The blades and their supporting rings Sand 9, or ring 6?, as the case may be, are removed from the support I, the adhering pieces removed and the pivot pin 23 in the slot 24 in the handle, lat-` eral bias is avoided when the presser is subjected to a tilting action by the vegetable that is being sliced. l

Other modications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

What I claim is: A

In a vegetable cutter, a tubular stationary support open at the top and having in its wall at one side a vegetable discharge opening, the lower with two sets of end of which is spaced a substantial distance .from the lower end of said support, a, bottom member iitted in and fastened at its periphery to the inner wall of said support and inclining downwardly from the side of said support, which is opposite to said opening, to the lower end of and extending through and projecting outwardly from said opening, and means at the upper end of said support for cutting a vegetable and ydischarging the cut portionsV downwardly upon said slanting bottom, the, slant of which is .suiiicient for the cut portions to pass by gravity outwardly through said opening. i y

CHESTER I. CURTICE. 

